KUWAIT CITY, March 16: The vegetable and fruits market in Sulaibiya (Shabra) was not affected by the holy month of Ramadan as it witnessed stability of prices as confirmed by both the buyers and sellers, reports Al-Rai daily. The daily monitored the market in the first days of Ramadan with one of the customers affirming that the prices are very reasonable; especially zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, eggplant, okra, cauliflower, lemon, pears, grapes, figs, peaches and strawberries. All of these items are available in a small box whose price does not exceed half a dinar, and a large box whose price is only one dinar, in contrast to the price hikes in other markets.

One of the citizens said: “I came to the market to buy household needs one day before Ramadan. I found everything is available, including vegetables and fruits of all kinds, --imported and local -- and at very reasonable prices, to the point that I bought 18 boxes of various items for only KD 24.”

Another citizen corroborated this, pointing out that he goes to ‘Shabra’ when he wants to buy large quantities, pointing out that the prices are appropriate, and even if there is a slight increase in Shabra prices, it may be acceptable due to an increase in demand in the holy month of Ramadan. “Regarding the prices on the first day of the blessed month, one of the citizens said that he bought several types of vegetables and noticed an increase in the prices as a box of tomatoes rose from 750 fils to KD1.250, a wooden box of lemons from 750 fils to KD1, lettuce from 500 to 750 fils, and potatoes from 900 fils for a 10-kilogram bag to KD1.500.

Monitored
Meanwhile, the price of a head of local Al-Nuaimi sheep reached KD180. This came after the daily monitored the increase in prices in sheep farms in Jahra, and surveyed the opinions of sellers and buyers, who confirmed that the increase has continued since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the cessation of imports from some countries, in addition to the fact that the month of Ramadan this year coincided with the National Assembly election. Consumers called on the government to tighten control over prices and not to exploit the month of Ramadan, so that prices are acceptable and do not affect their pockets, warning that some merchants may take advantage of the current circumstances and artificially raise prices, so the Ministry of Commerce must be on the lookout for them.

Several sellers told the daily that the increase in prices is currently expected, and there are always changes in prices due to the law on supply and demand, as the high demand for sheep leads to an increase in prices, indicating the price of local sheep has increased by 50 percent depending on the size, weight, and age. They confirmed that the demand for sheep increases during Ramadan.

The types currently available in Kuwait are the Iranian, Saudi, and local sheep; while there are other types whose prices range from KD65 to KD70 dinars, but there is no demand for them, as they are small like the Somali sheep, or its meat is black and not tasty like sheep imported from Kazakhstan. They added that the most in-demand types in the market now are the local Al-Naimi, whose price ranges from KD140 to KD180 , and Shafali from KD100 to KD130 depending on age and size.